April 20, 2009

Life in India

  • As far as your questions go: People normally live in a house, but a lot smaller than you would expect. Also, there are like 3 levels in each house and a different family lives in each house. I will send you some pictures next week if I can get any. The house usually consists of a 10x10 room where they have everything they need like beds, TVs, clothes. Everything. Then there is a smaller 5x5 room, which is the kitchen. Its pretty crazy. One thing I have learned here, a lot of stuff we think we need, we really don't need it. Most people don't have bathrooms. They just shower and do stuff in the street.
  • Roads are paved in the city and dirt outside the city. The streets in neighborhoods are cement. I only get out of the city if I go on exchange. My area is the center of the city, so I don't really get out much.
  • We shop at small shops and "grocery stores". If you saw the "grocery store" you would think it was a small shop so I guess you could say a small shop. When I come home and see the giant Walmarts, and Targets and Costco, I might die. I'm going to be a little perplexed and confused.
  • My apartment is pretty good. We are having water problems so that kinda stinks. We can't do laundry at our apartment, we have to do it at other Elder's apartments. Oh well, it really doesn't matter to me. It is a little old, and the couple missionaries want us to leave, but we can't find a new one. I have been trying for 6 months so yeah, it stinks. Here, they are very wary of bachelors and Americans when it comes to apartments. It's weird.

The Dedication is Paying Off

  • I get to be an Uncle twice!!!! That is so sweet. I'm so excited. You have no idea. Are they going to name their baby after me too? Just kidding. I'm so excited. I'm going to have a lot of little kids to spoil when I get home. For those who don't know, we are getting TWO grandbabies this year!! Our first and second. Ash Ali are naming their little boy Dexter; that just happens to be the nickname Ashton's friends gave to Devon some years ago. We are so excited about the babies; I guess he is too. MM
  • A new Elder came named Elder Stratton. Hahaha how funny is that? Now there is an Elder Briggs and an Elder Stratton. I find it funny.
  • This week was Zone conference. It was amazing. I learned so many new things about church organization and the priesthood. I didn't even know we knew that much stuff about it. It was crazy cool. I learned a lot. Conference was great too. I get so much more out of it on my mission, maybe it is because I actually listened to all sessions and paid attention. :) HEHEH
  • I also had my interview on Monday. President told me that he was sorry for making me a junior companion again. He said he didn't want it that way, but it was the only way it worked. I told him I didn't care. I'm not one to seek after leadership positions. I think I might get transferred from Visak soon. I don't want to though. I love it here.
  • The missionary work is going great. We have six people set for baptism in May and then we want to set 4 more people this week. So we should have 10 by Sunday. I hope so. :) I think I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel after being whitewashed here. In Coimbatore, my old area, they had 11 baptisms two Sundays ago. It was so awesome. You should have seen the pictures. There were 4 families baptized.

April 13, 2009

I just had a great thought about when Mom banged the camera on the floor then said the next day that it was broken and she didnt know why ;) HAHAH

  • Good News! Bala Krishna is getting a loan so he can finish. Don't worry about it. I don't think you are supposed to help anyway. Tell everyone thanks for caring and looking out for others.
  • I have been thinking a lot about my future and I really think that I want to play soccer in college, or at least try. I know I will have to work really really hard for the two months before college starts, but I know I can do it.
  • I'm so happy Jesse is going on a mission. I actually thought just yesterday that I should write him a letter. How crazy is that? I'll write him today. I don't have his address though maybe you can send it to me this week. That is awesome though.
  • My new companion and I are killing it in Visak. With Elder Talk I had to do everything and make all decisions, and lets just say it got old by the end of 4 months. When Elder Nixon came I got a little part of my desire to do missionary work again. Things weren't so hard. It is easier with Elder Nixon. I Love it.
  • Oh I forgot Igot deathly ill for three days. OK, not deathly ill, but I was sick and didn't have anyone to take care of me so it was especially bad. But I'm fine now. Sister Nichols gave me a nice anti biotic that fixed everything.